Canon has delayed availability of the Canon EOS-M system until at least October 31, 2012 in North America.

Keep an eye

Both B&H and Adorama have October 15, 2012 as the day the Canon EOS-M begins shipping in North America. The first kits to hit the market should be the EOS-M body and 22mm f/2.8 STM lens as well as the Speedlite 90EX.

Early reviews for the first Canon mirrorless camera have been relatively positive. It’s not an earth shattering advancement for the segment, but it does what it does quite well. The biggest issue people have had with the camera is an autofocus that isn’t lightning fast. This seems to be a relatively common theme among mirrorless cameras. For people going from a PowerShot to the EOS-M, they’re not going to notice. However, if you go from your 5D Mark III to the EOS-M, you’re going to notice the slowdown.

Handled it at a store, and it's what it is, a simple small mirrorless canon.The lack of external controls turns me away, but makes sense for the majority of it's target audience as simple is easy to use and if someone can pick it up and figure out how to turn it on and press the shutter then all is good.3 yr old sensor, still good but yeah, and the AF speed is fine, it's the lack of VF, flash, controls and the price for a fixed lens attachment that's silly. I love primes but for $800 with just a 35mm equiv. that's an expensive phone camera that can't make calls... but the metal body with finish like the G series certainly felt good

Who cares that the M is available? Mirrorless cameras are incredible photographic tools. In addition to my 5D MarkIII Kit, I own a complete MFT kit. MFT is an INCREDIBLE small format. I use it more and more and leave the DSLR at home because of the size and weight.For $800 the M camera totally misses the mirrorless mark on ALL parameters...When I read that Canon was going to build a mirrorless camera system, I was initially quite excited... What a let down.How could a company with this much status in the photography marketplace offer a mirrorless camera this late in the game that is so lacklustre? It boggles the mind.

Standard

Yeah. I personally don't care about the M line either. Guess it'll appeal to a different market group than us. I have a Fujifilm X10 and it's plenty of camera for me when I don't want to lug around a big DSLR.

3 yr old sensor, still good but yeah, and the AF speed is fine, it's the lack of VF, flash, controls and the price for a fixed lens attachment that's silly. I love primes but for $800 with just a 35mm equiv. that's an expensive phone camera that can't make calls... but the metal body with finish like the G series certainly felt good

+1

will NOT buy it. I find the EOS-M a very disappointing and unattractive offering compared to e.g. the Sony NEX-6 - which has built-in EVF, flash, way faster AF and full controls.

Curious to try it out. Wasn't blown away by the sample images I saw on Flickr, though...was originally going to get this camera right away but have decided to hold off and spend that money towards a true upgrade instead.

BUT...I still wish to replace my P&S (a Canon SD950IS) with something small that takes high-quality pictures. It's funny, now my iPhone can take photos comparable in quality (given good light) to the SD950IS...I had high hopes that the M would be the replacement I was looking for. I may still get one eventually, maybe once the price goes down a bit...

I still expect this camera to sell very well, and for the future of both high-end P&S and all Rebels to be M mount.

I personally have no interest, though. My iPhone is all the always-with-me pocketable camera I need, and the 5DIII (and no grip) with the Shorty McForty fits the bill (for me, not others) of a "small, compact" high-quality normal prime setup.

When I read that Canon was going to build a mirrorless camera system, I was initially quite excited... What a let down.How could a company with this much status in the photography marketplace offer a mirrorless camera this late in the game that is so lacklustre? It boggles the mind.

I couldn't agree more. When it comes to APS-C/DX mirrorless cameras, Canon screwed the pooch ... BIG time And Sony, of all people, got it right!!

Mirrorless cameras are not a step-up from P&S, they are a step-sideways from DSLRs. How long will it take for Canon to understand this simple fact After a few misteps, Sony has finally has got it right. First the 24Mp NEX-7, and now the 16Mp NEX-6 and the truely mind boggling 24Mp Full Frame Cyber Shot RX-1 Can you say, Asleep at the Wheel??

Curious to try it out. Wasn't blown away by the sample images I saw on Flickr, though...was originally going to get this camera right away but have decided to hold off and spend that money towards a true upgrade instead.

BUT...I still wish to replace my P&S (a Canon SD950IS) with something small that takes high-quality pictures. It's funny, now my iPhone can take photos comparable in quality (given good light) to the SD950IS...I had high hopes that the M would be the replacement I was looking for. I may still get one eventually, maybe once the price goes down a bit...

I see the EOS M very much as Canon's first entry in this space. Some views have indicated that Canon had hoped to have a new APS-C sensor in the market sooner - but the current 18MP sensor is what Canon had, and what went into the camera.

There has been a lot of talk about a more sophisticated model - hopefully with more controls and with an EVF. I'm holding out until Canon plays its hand with the next model in this range - hopefully with a new APS-C sensor as well.

I know a lot of people want a mirrorless full frame body from Canon. I don't think that is going to happen. The only lens mount that Canon has in the market, which supports a 24x36mm frame size is the EF mount, which has a flange distance of 44mm (sufficient for a mirror box). As a result, any camera based on the EF mount is constrained physically by that.

For the foreseeable future I only see Canon releasing APS-C mirrorless bodies, since the maximum sensor size that can be accommodated by the EF-M mount is APS-C.

im looking forward to trying mine out,the fuji x10 was ok until it went in to fuji to get "fixed"no more fuji bad service for me thoughI guess if i wasnt getting it as a replacement for that camera i probably would not buy one but since the cost of the x10 is going to offset mst of the cost of the M i will only have to add in a bit more cash

Canon, you are late. I believe I am going to get a mirrorless camera for my wife in months. There are too many better choices than Canon EOS-M in the market. I guess Canon is going to lose this market.